1.What did you want to be when you grew up?

Early in high school, I wanted to become either a fashion designer, an airplane pilot or an architect, but once I started doing photography at the end of high school, I discovered what I truly wanted to do.

2. What are your favorite types of photos to shoot?

Probably food photography. I did it coming out of college, and I take great enjoyment in the teamwork and collaboration. You get to share it with all the people involved. Plus, once in a while, I get to sneak a bite here and there.

Photo © Christian Lalonde/photoluxstudio.com

3. Living in Ottawa, what is the biggest misperception about that part of Canada?

Haha!!! Ottawa is a government town, so the mentality that people have is that things aren’t as creative or stylish here than in places like Montreal or Toronto. But I have to disagree.

4. What’s the starkest difference and similarity between Canada and the U.S.?

Outside of Donald Trump, and guns, and, oh yeah, health care, we are quite similar. We have lots of opportunities available to us, we can run successful businesses and get to do what we enjoy. I do find that American culture values photography more and that company support is way stronger. We actually did a spoof video on that before our WPPI presentation in 2008—the previous year, we won 14 awards and still could not find any industry sponsors because we were Canadian!

5. How have you fit your business within your personal life over the years?

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis seven years ago, I realized I had to take more time for myself and I needed to do things that really made me happy before I’m unable to. With MS, you never know what the next day will bring. Whenever I have some downtime, I take advantage of it. I’m taking more time to travel—I used to never take holidays for more than three or four days.

6. What do you like about shooting for the edit?

The cool thing is I have the ability to envision my final image when actually shooting. It’s a bit hard to translate to clients, but they trust that whatever I say, I will do. I will be able to deliver. I drew all my life, and now with Photoshop, I get to draw on my images.

7. What does your typical morning look like?

I get up, feed our cat, Zak, then I feed our dog, Twix, I let her out, then I decide on what I’ll have for breakfast, check my emails, check my social media, and listen to the news. Then I walk the dog and head to the studio. Oh, I also put on pants at some point.

8. What’s the craziest thing that’s happened during a shoot?

Fairly recently, I tripped on a camera bag while running backwards trying to follow a couple during a wedding. I snapped the lens right off the camera and hit my head really hard. Another time, I ripped the inseam of my pants while climbing on a bus seat during an advertising shoot. I was trying to set up lighting on the roof before all the talent was set to arrive. Thank God for duct taped. I’ve also ripped all the buttons on my shirt while moving backwards in a kitchen doing a lifestyle shoot. My shirt got caught in one of the refrigerator doors and completely ripped the whole thing open. Thank God for staplers.

9. You had a crisis at WPPI this year—can you tell us a bit about that?

During the convention, I woke up at 6:00 a.m. one morning with chest pain, numbness in my left arm and other muscle pains, sweating and feeling like I was going to pass out. I ended up having a heart attack due to blockage in my arteries. If I hadn’t decided to go to the ER, I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you right now. The left main artery was 99 percent blocked and the right at 90 percent. It’s crazy, as I feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life!

10. What did you walk away thinking after that?

That life is full of surprises, life is fragile and you have to make the best of it. Never take your health for granted, no matter how healthy you think you are. I must have answered over 500 messages from WPPI people wishing me a speedy recovery. They say WPPI is more than just a convention, and it is so true! When I was in trouble, I knew I had so many people I could reach out to. I want to thank Collin Pierson, who came with me to the ER, took things into his own hands like I was his brother and made sure that everything was well handled. I had a bunch of close friends bring the convention with them to the hospital, which helped to pass the time. Melissa and Jerry Ghionis took me in for a week while things got sorted for me to fly back to Canada. I’m forever grateful to everyone for all their help and well wishes, and I can’t wait to see them all again next year.

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